Concealed,extensible and contractible,drapery supporting structure



March 24, 1970 M. H. HAGER ET AL 3,502,132

CONCEALED, EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE, DRAPERY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 18. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24, 1970 M. H. HAGER ET AL 3,502,132

CONCEALED, EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE, DRAPERY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18. 1968 .zi/@Mmes MneA/Ijge,

March 24, 1970 M. H. HAGER ETAL 3,502,132

CONCEALED, EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE, DRAPERY 'SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 18. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 TA/VE/VMRS.

.A1/'WM I Hfas@ laws/vae' ADAMS;

United States Patent O 3,502,132 CGNCEALED, EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE, DRAPERY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Mark H. Hager, 9381/2 S. Serrano, Los Angeles, Calif. 90006, and Clarence R. Adams, Glendale, Calif.; said Adams assignor to said Hager Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,606 Int. Cl. A47h 01/022, 05/02 U.S. Cl. 160--331 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cantilevered, horizontally extensible and contractible, drapery support which is completely concealed by a drape hung therefrom in both the extended and contracted positions of the support. The drape is so hung from the support that the drape is extended when the support is extended, and is retracted when the support is contracted. The drapery support comprises a series of telescopically connected sections including an innermost section, at least one intermediate section carried by and movable relative to the innermost section, and an outermost section carried by :and movable relative to the intermediate section, the intermediate and outermost sections being cantilevered from the innermost section when the drapery support is extended. The drape is hung by means of fixed hooks connected to the inner end of the innermost section and the outer end of the outermost section, and by means of slidable hooks engageable with the various sections. The slidable hooks bear against the various telescopically connected sections in such a way as to minimize forward and downward tipping of the hooks,

and to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the hooks from the support. A cable system operated either manually, or by an electric motor, serves to extend and contract the drapery support.

Background of invention As is well known, drapes are frequently hung from traverse rods equipped with fixed hooks supporting the fixed edges of the drapes and equipped with slidable hooks supporting the movable edges and intermediate portions of the drapes, the movable hooks supporting the leading edges being extendible :and retractable by means of a cable or cord system to extend the drapes over areas to be draped and to retract them. Usually, the traverse rod supports a pair of drapes the movable edges of which are displaced toward each other in extending the drapes to cover the draped area. However, the traverse rod may support a single drape the leading edge of which is movable back 'and forth across the draped area.

In either event, in a conventional installation, the traverse rod extends permanently across the draped area so that a portion of the rod is exposed when the drape or drapes hung therefrom are retracted, the rod being concealed only when the drape or drapes are extended. Such exposed portions of conventional traverse rods are aesthetically objectionable since they are quite conspicuous when the drape or drapes are retracted.

Summary and objects of invention In view of the foregoing background, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a drapery ice support which is capable of extending and retracting a drape hung therefrom, and which is completely concealed in both the retracted and the extended positions of the drape.

More particularly, an important object of the invention is to provide a drapery support which is horizontally extensible and contractible to extend and retract a drape hung therefrom, and which is completely concealed by the drape in both the extended and retracted positions thereof.

Still more specifically, another object of the invention is to provide :a concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure which includes: a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support comprising a series of telescopically connected sections; mounting means connected to one of the sections of the drapery support, for mounting the support at the top of an area to be draped; actuating means for extending and conP tracting the drapery support; and means for hanging a drape from the sections of the support in such a way that the drape conceals the support, its mounting means, and its :actuating means, in both the extended and contracted positions of the support.

A further object is to provide a drapery support comprising a series of telescopically connected sections including an innermost section, at least one intermediate section, and an outermost section.

An additional object is to connect the mounting means to the innermost section of the drapery support only so that the support is cantilevered from the innermost section when extended.

Still lanother object s to provide an actuating means, for extending and contracting the drapery support, which includes: a rotary actuator connected to the innermost section adjacent the inner end thereof; cable or cord drive means interconnecting the rotary actuator and the telescopically connected sections of the drapery support for extending and contracting the support in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in opposite directions, respectively; and means for rotating the rotary actuator in opposite directions.

The means for rotating the rotary actuator may either be manual, or it may comprise a suitable motor, such as an electric motor. In the latter connection, an object is to provide means for automatically stopping the motor upon completion of the extension or contraction of the drapery support.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an extensible and contractible drapery support of the foregoing nature wherein the innermost, intermediate and outermost sections respectively include upwardly extending, innermost, intermediate and outermost hook-support ing elements which overlap in the direction of extension and contraction of the support in both the extended and contnacted positions thereof, the hook-supporting elements having parallel, closely spaced, upper, hook-supporting edges located at the front side of the support.

Yet another object is to provide slidable drapery hooks on the hook-supporting elements, each of the slidable drapery hooks including a rearwardly and downwardly facing, upper hook portion hooked over one or more of the hook-supporting edges (depending on whether the drapery support is extended or contracted), each of the hooks also including a forwardly and upwardly facing, lower hook portion engageable with the drape, and each of the hooks further including a shank interconnecting the upper and lower hook portions thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide fixed drapery hooks respectively carried Iby the inner and outer ends of the innermost and outermost sections of the drapery support at the same level as the slidable hooks, such xed drapery hooks being engageable with the respective edges of the drape.

Still another object of the invention is to round the outer end of the hook-supporting edge of the innermost hook-supporting element, both ends of the hook-supporting edge of the intermediate hook-supporting element, and the inner end of the hook-supporting edge of the outermost hook-supporting element, so that the upper hook portions of the slidable drapery hooks can be transferred freely from the hook-supporting edge of one hook-supporting element to the hook-supporting edge of another,

A further object is to provide the shank of each slidable hook with a guide having a smooth rear surface slidably engageable with front surfaces of the hook-supporting elements to minimize downward and forward tipping cf the slidable hooks, thereby minimizing the concave effect at the top of the drape frequently encountered with conventional hooks and traverse rods.

Yet another object is to provide the hook-supporting elements on their front sides with downwardly-facing shoulders under which rearwardly extending tabs on the shanks of the slidable hooks project to prevent disengagement of the slidable hooks from the hook-supporting elements.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will Ibe evident to those skilled in the drapery hanging art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter.

Description of drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a window draped with a pair of drapes respectively hung from concealed, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structures of the invention, the drapes being shown in retracted positions;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are semidiagrammatic front elevational views of a drapery supporting structure of the invention, the drapery supporting structure being shown in its contracted position in FIG. 2, to retract the drape hung therefrom, and in its extended position in FIG. 3, to extend the drape;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the drapery supporting structure of the invention in more detail, some parts being shown in section and others being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged view duplicating a portion of FIG. 4 on a larger scale, and showing an extensible and contractible drapery support of the invention with various parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view showing telescopically connected innermost,-intermediate and outermost sections of a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support forming part of the drapery supporting structure of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view showing innermost, intermediate and outermost hooksupporting elements which form parts of the extensible and contractible drapery support of the invention and which are carried Iby the innermost, intermediate and outermost telescopically-interconnected sections of the drapery support, respectively;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, in a Vertical plane, through the horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an actuating means of the invention for extending and contracting the telescopically connected sections of the drapery support; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a drapery hook of the invention.

Description of exemplary embodiment of invention Referring initially to FIG. l of the drawings, the numeral 20 designates a wall in which is set a window 22 adapted to be covered by drapes 24 and 26, the drapes being shown in retracted positions.

The drape 24 is hung from and completely conceals a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery supporting structure 30 of the invention which is shown semidiagrammatically in front elevation in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The drape 26 is hung from and completely conceals a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery supporting structure, not shown, which is similar to the drapery supporting structure 30, except that it is of the opposite hand. Consequently, only the drapery supporting structure 30 will be considered in detail herein. Preferably, the adjacent ends of the two structures are relatively offset slightly so that the drapes will overlap.

The drapery supporting structure 30, and its counterpart from which the drape 26 is hung, are so constructed, and the drapes 24 and 26 are so hung therefrom, that the two supporting structures are completely concealed by the respective drapes, irrespective of whether the drapes are fully extended to conceal the window 22, or are partly or completely retracted to expose part or all of the window. As will be evident from FIG. 1, wherein the drapes 24 and 26 are shown in retracted positions, the drapery supporting structure 30 and its counterpart are completely invisible, which is the essential feature of the invention.

The principal component of the drapery supporting structure 30 is a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support 32 from which the drape 24 is hung in such a manner that the drape is extended and retracted as the drapery support is extended and contracted. A mounting means 34 connected to the inner end of the drapery support 32 mounts the drapery support on the wall 20 in cantilever fashion at the top of the area to be draped by the drape 24. (It will be understood that, if desired, the mounting means 34 may mount the drapery support 32 in cantilever fashion from the ceiling, not shown, if the drape 24 extends from floor to ceiling.)

The drapery support 32 comprises a series of at least two, and preferably three or more, slidably or telescopically connected sections. In the particular construction illustrated, there are three such sections, viz., an innermost section 36 having its inner end connected to the mounting means 34 in any suitable manner, an intermediate section 38 slidable relative to the innermost section, and an outermost section 40 slidable relative to the intermediate section.

The three sections 36, 38 and 40 may be of any suitable construction and may be slidably interconnected in any suitable manner. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 9, and particularly the latter, the three sections 36, 38 and 40 are shown as comprising progressively smaller channels in nested relation. Grooved rollers carried by the respective sections and engageable with complementary tracks on the respective adjacent sections serve to interconnect the various sections for relative sliding movement. More particularly, the innermost section 36 is provided with grooved rollers 42 engaging complementary tracks on the intermediate section 38, the intermediate section s provided with grooved rollers 46 engaging complementary tracks on the outermost section 40, and the outermost section is provided with grooved rollers 50 engaging complementary tracks 52 on the intermediate section. However, it will be understood that various other sliding interconnections between the sections 36, 38 and 40 may be used.

Relative sliding movement of the innermost, intermediate and outermost sections 36, 38 and 40 is limited by interengageable stops on the various sections. As shown in FIG. 4, inward movement of the intermediate section 38 relative to the innermost section 36 is limited by engagement of the inner end of the intermediate section with a stop 54 on the innermost section. Referring to FIG. 7, outward movement of the intermediate section 38 relative to the innermost section 36 is limited by engagement of a stop 56 on the intermediate section with a stop 58 on the innermost section. Inward and outward movements of the outermost section 40 relative to the intermediate section 38 are limited by a stop 60 on the outermost section engageable with inner and outer stops 62 and 64 on the intermediate section. The stops 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 are illustrative only and other movement limiting means may be substituted therefor.

As previously indicated, the inner endof the innermost drapery-support section 36 is rigidly connected to the mounting means 34 in any suitable manner. In the construction illustrated, the mounting means 34 comprises a housing 66, FIG. 4, for various components which will be described hereinafter. (Among the components within the housing 66 are parts of an actuating means 74 for extending and contracting the drapery support 32, as will be described in detail hereinafter.) The housing 66 includes a removable cover 68 and includes a mounting plate 70 to which the inner end of the innermost draperysupport section 36 is suitably secured, and which is suita=bly secured to the wall 20, as by screws 72. If desired, means may be provided in the mounting means 34 for adjusting the position of the drapery support 32 to compensate for any tendency thereof to sag under the weight of a drape. Preferably, the outer end of the innermost section 36 is suitably secured to the wall 20, as indicated at 75 in FIGS. 2 and 3, to minimize sagging and horizontal swaying of the drapery support 32, particularly when it is extended. With the supplementary point of support 75, only the intermediate and outermost sections 38 and 40 are cantilevered when the drapery support 32 is extended.

The innermost, intermediate and outermost telescopically-interconnected sections 36, 38 and 40 of the drapery support 32 respectively include upwardly extending innermost, intermediate and outermost hook-supporting elements 76, 78 and 80, FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9, which overlap in the direction of extension and contraction of the drapery support in both the extended and contracted positions thereof. As best shown in FIG. 9, the hook-supporting elements 76, 78 and 80 respectively have parallel, closely spaced, upper, hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90 located at the front side of the drapery support 32 and substantially in the front vertical plane thereof.

The hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90 support slidable drapery hooks 92 which will be described in more detail hereinafter. Each of the slidable drapery hooks 92 engages one or more of the hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90, depending on its position longitudinally of the drapery support 32, and depending on whether the drapery support is extended or contracted. This will be clear from FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings in particular.

To permit the slidable drapery hooks 92 to slide freely from one of the hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90 to another, the outer end 94 of the innermost hook-supporting edge 86, the inner and outer ends 96 and 98 of the intermediate hook-supporting edge 88, and the inner end 100 of the outermost hook-supporting edge 90 are all rounded, as perhaps 'best shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. Thcse rounded ends 94, 96, 98 and 100 prevent the slidable drapery hooks 92 which must slide from one of the hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90 to another from hanging up as they effect the transfer.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, each slidable drapery hook 92 includes a rearwardly and downwardly facing, upper hook portion 102 hooked over one or more of the hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and 90, depending on its position longitudinally of the drapery support 32, and depending on whether the drapery support is extended or contracted. Each hook 98 also includes a forwardly and upwardly facing, lower hook portion 104 capable of hooked engagement with the drape 24 in the usual manner. Although shown open, the hook portion 104 may be closed in the conventional manner. The upper and lower hook portions 102 and 104 are interconnected by a shank 106 which carries a transverselyextending guide 108 having a smooth rear surface and having transversely spaced ends 110 projecting transversely outwardly and forwardly therefrom. The rear surfaces of the guides 108 of the various slidable drapery hooks 92 slidably engage a front surface 116, 118 or 120 of the corresponding hook-supporting element 76, 78 or 80. The guide 108 of the slidable drapery hook 92 shown in FIG. 9 is illustrated as engaging the front surface 120 of the outermost hook-supporting element 80.

This slidable engagement of the drapery-hook guides 108 with the front surfaces 116, 118 and 120 of the hooksupporting elements 76, 78 and 80 minimizes downward and forward tipping of the slidable drapery hooks to substantially prevent any downwardly and forwardly facing concavity along the top edge of the drape 24, which is an important feature. It will be noted that the front surface of the outermost hook-supporting element 80 maintains the slidable drapery hooks 92 in engagement therewith absolutely upright. The planes of the front surfaces 116 and 118 are located as closely as possible t0 the plane of the front surface 120 so that tipping of any of the slidable drapery hooks 92 in engagement with the hook-supporting element 76 only, or the hook-supporting elements 76 and 78, is minimized to minimize any concave effect at the top edge of the drape 24.

The outwardly and forwardly projecting ends 110 of the drapery-hook guides 108 facilitate movement of the guides from one of the surfaces 116, 118 and 120 to another to prevent the guides from catching on the inner ends of the intermediate and outermost hook-supporting elements 78 and 80.

To prevent inadvertent disengagement of the slidable drapery hooks 92 from the hook-supporting elements 76, 78 and 80, the guides 108 are provided at their lower edges with rearwardly extending tabs 122 which are er1- gageable with one of a series of downwardly-facing shoulders 126, 128 and 130 on the respective hook-supporting elements 76, 78 and 80. As will be apparent from FIG. 9 of the drawings, the tabs 122 and the shoulders 126, 128 and 130 cooperate to virtually prevent inadvertent dislodgment of the slidable drapery hooks 92 from the hook-supporting elements 76, 78 and 80.

In addition to the slidable drapery hooks 92, the drapery supporting structure 30 includes fixed hooks 132 and 134 respectively located at the inner and outer ends of the innermost and outermost sections 36 and 40 of the drapery support 32, at the same level as the slidable drapery hooks. In the particular construction illustrated, there is at least one inner fixed hook 132 inserted into one of a series of holes 136 in an upwardly extending tab 138 on the cover 68 of the housing 66, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings. There is also at least one outer fixed hook 134 inserted into one of a series of holes 140 in a tab 142 at the outer end of the outermost hook-supporting element 80.

As will be apparent, the inner and outer edges of the drape 24 are hung from the respective inner and outer fixed hooks 132 and 134. The inner fixed hook or hooks 132 remain stationary, relative to the Wall 20, as the drape 24 is extended and retracted, thereby maintaining the inner edge of the drape stationary relative to the wall. The outer ixed hook or hooks 134 move back and forth across the draped area as the drapery support 32 is extended and contracted, whereby the drape 24 is correspondingly extended and retracted. As will be apparent, as the drape 24 is extended and retracted in this fashion by extension and contraction of the vdrapery support 32, the slidable drapery hooks 92 slide back and forth along the hook-supporting edges 86, 88 and/or 90 as required. In other words, the outer Iixed hook or hooks 134 move the outer edge of the drape 24 back and forth across the draped area, and the slidable drapery hooks 92 merely follow along.

Turning now to a consideration of the actuating means 74 for extending and contracting the drapery support 32, it includes a rotary actuator 150, FIGS. 4 and 10, mounted in the housing 66 and rotatable about a horizontal fore-and-aft axis. In the particular construction illustrated, the rotary actuator 150 is rotated in opposite directions by a reversible electric motor 152 connected to the rotary actuator by gears 154 and 156. However, the rotary actuator 150 may be rotated in opposite directions in other ways. For example, it may be rotated by means of an endless cord, not shown, depending from the housing 66 and concealed by the drape 24.

A drive means 158 interconnects the rotary actuator 150 and the innermost, intermediate and outermost drapery-support sections 36, 38 and 40 and serves to extend and contract the drapery support 42 in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in opposite directions, respectively. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 10, the rotary actuator 150 comprises an actuating pulley and the drive means 158 comprises a drive cord or cable 160 trained around the actuating pulley and around an idler pulley means 162 on the inner end of the innermost section 36, an idler pulley means 164 on the outer end of the innermost section, an idler pulley means 166 on the inner end of the intermediate section 38, and an idler pulley means 168 on the outer end of the intermediate section, the ends of the drive cable being connected to an anchor 170 on the inner end of the outermost section 40. To insure proper routing of the drive cable 160, each of the idler pulley means 164 and 168 comprises two closely-spaced pulleys, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 10.

Considering the routing of the drive cable 160 more specifically now, one portion 172 thereof extends from the actuating pulley 150` around the idler pulley means 162 to the anchor 170, being connected to the anchor through a tension spring 174 which takes up any slack. A continuation 176 of the drive-cable portion 172 extends from the actuating pulley 150 around the idler pulley means 162, which comprises a plurality of separate idler pulleys rotatable about the same axis to accommodate the various drive-cable portions. From the idler pulley means 162, the drive-cable portion 176 extends to and around the idler pulley means 164. A continuation 178 of the drive-cable portion 176 extends from the idler pulley means 164 to and around the idler pulley means 166. A continuation 180 of the drive-cable portion 178 extends from the idler pulley means 166 to and around the idler pulley means 168. Finally, a continuation 182 of the drive-cable portion 180 extends from the idler pulley means 168 to and is connected to the anchor 170.

With the foregoing drive means 158, rotation of the actuating pulley 150 in the counterclockwise direction extends the drapery support 32, while rotation of the actuating pulley in the clockwise direction contracts the drapery support. The action of the drive means 158 in extending the drapery support 32 in response to counterclockwise rotation of the actuating pulley 150 will be clear from the directional arrows which have been applied to FIG. of the drawings. Thus, as the actuating pulley 150 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the various drive-cable portions 172, 176, 178, 180 and 182 are displaced in the directions of the arrows respectively thereadjacent. These displacements of the respective drivecable portions result in outward displacements of the idler pulley means 166 and 168 and of the anchor 170, as indicated by the arrows respectively thereadjacent, the end result being extension of the drapery support 32. If the actuating pulley is rotated in the clockwise direction, the drive-cable portions 172, 176, 178, and 182, the idler pulley means 166 and 168, and the anchor 170, move in directions opposite to those shown in FIG. 10, thereby contracting the drapery support 32.

The drive-cable portions 176, 178, 180 and 182 are threaded longitudinally through the drapery support 32 and lie between the various sections 36, 38 and 40 thereof in the positions shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein the actuating pulley is shown as driven by the reversible electric motor 152, means are provided for automatically stopping the motor upon full extension and full contraction, respectively of the drapery support 32. The means for stopping the motor 152 upon full contraction of the drapery support 32 cornprises a normally closed limit switch 184, FIG. 4, engage- -able by a projection 186 on the inner end of the outermost drapery-support section 40. The means for stopping the motor 152 upon full extension of the drapery support 32 comprises a limit switch 188 operable by a pivoted actuator 190. Considering a manner in which the actuator 190 is pivoted, a cord or cable 192 passes through an opening in this actuator from a spring reel 194 in the housing 66. From the actuator 190, the cord 192 passes over a pulley of the idler pulley means 162 and is connected to the anchor 170 at the inner end of the outermost drapery-support section 40. When the drapery support 32 is fully extended, a knot or bead 196, FIG. 3, on the cord 192 engages the actuator 190 to pivot same away from the limit switch 188, which may be a normally open switch, to cause it to de-energize the motor 152.

Since the operation of each of the basic components of the drapery supporting structure 30 has been explained earlier herein in connection with describing its structure, it is thought that the over-all operation of the drapery supporting structure Will be clear without further explanation. Suiiice it to say that the drape 24 completely conceals the entire drapery supporting structure 30 as the horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support 32 is extended and contracted. At no time is any portion of the drapery supporting structure 30 exposed to view, which is the essential feature of the invention.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appearing in the next section of this specification.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination:

(a) a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support;

(b) means for 4mounting said drapery support at the top of an area to be draped;

(c) actuating means for extending and contracting said drapery support; and

(d) a drape hung from said drapery support with the upper edge of said drape extending vertically above said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, and with the vertical edges of said drape extending horizontally beyond said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, said drape thereby completely concealing said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support.

2. In a concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure, the combination of:

(a) a horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support comprising a series of telescopically connected sections;

(b) mounting means connected to one of said sections of said drapery support only, and located between the ends of said drapery support, for mounting said drapery support at the top of an area to be draped;

(c) actuating means for extending and contracting said drapery support; and

(d) means for hanging a drape from all of said sections of said drapery support with the upper edge of said drape extending vertically above said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, and with the vertical edges of said drape extending horizontally beyond said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, said drape thereby completely concealing said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support.

3. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting means is connected to said innermost section of said drapery support only, adjacent said inner end of said drapery support, so as to mount said drapery support in cantilever fashion.

4. In a concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure, the combination of:

(a) a. horizontally extensible and contractible drapery support having inner and outer ends and comprising a series of telescopically connected sections including `an innermost section, at least one intermediate section, and an outermost section;

(b) mounting means connected to said innermost section of said drapery support only, adjacent said inner end of said drapery support, for mounting said drapery support in cantilever fashion at the top of an area to be draped;

(c) actuating means for extending and contracting said drapery support; and

(d) means for hanging a drape from all of said sections of said drapery support with upper edge of said drape extending vertically above said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, and with the vertical edges of said drape extending horizontally beyond said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contracted positions of said drapery support, said drape thereby completely concealing said drapery support and said actuating and mounting means in both the extended and contacted positions of said drapery support.

5. A concealable, extensible and contractible, `drapery supporting structure according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means include-s:

(a) a rotary actuator connected to said innermost section adjacent the inner end therof;

(b) drive means interconnecting said rotary actuator and said innermost, intermediate and outermost sections for extending and contacting said drapery sup- -port in response to rotation of said rotary actuator in opposite directions, respectively; and

(c) means for rotating said rotary actuator in opposite direction.

6. A concealable, extensible and contractible drapery supporting structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotary actuator comprises a driving pulley and wherein said drive means includes:

(a) an anchor on said outermost section adjacent the inner end thereof;

(b) -rst idler pulley means on said innermost section adjacent the outer end thereof;

(c) `second idler pulley means on said intermediate section adjacent the inner end thereof;

(d) third idler pulley means on said intermediate section adjacent the outer end thereof; and (e) a cable trained around said driving pulley and said rst, second and third idler pulley means and having ends :connected to said anchor, said cable extending from said anchor to and around said driving pulley, then to and around said rst idler pulley means, then to and around said `second idler pulley means, lthen to and around said third idler pulley means, and then back to said anchor. 7. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery 4supporting structure as set forth in claim 6 including a four-th idler pulley means connected to said innermost sect-ion adjacent the inner end thereof, the portions of said cable between said anchor and said driving pulley, and between said driving pulley and said `first idler pulley means, being trained around said lfourth idler pulley means.

8. A concealable, extensible and contractible drapery supporting structure according to claim 7 including a tension spring in said cable between said anchor and said fourth idler pulley means.

9. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure as dened in claim 8 including:

(a) a spring take-up reel connected to said innermost -section adjacent the inner end thereof; and

(b) a cord extending 4from said take-up reel around said fourth idler pulley means and connected to said anchor.

10. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure as dened in claim 4 wherein said innermost, intermediate and outermost sections of said drapery support respectively include upwardly extending, 1nnermost intermediate and outermost hook-supporting elements which overlap in the direction of extension and contraction of said drapery support in both the extended and contracted positions thereof, said hook-supporting elements having parallel, closely spaced, upper, hooksupporting edges located at the front side of said drapery support.

11. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure as set forth in claim 10 Whereinthe outer end of said hook-supporting edge of said innermost hook-supporting element is rounded, wherein both ends of said hook-supporting edge of said intermediate hooksupporting element are rounded, and wherein the -inner end of said hook-supporting edge of said outermost hooksupporting element is rounded.

12. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery supporting structure as set forth in claim 11 including slidable drapery hooks carried by said hook-supporting elements, each of said drapery hooks including a rearwardly and downwardly facing upper hook portion hooked over one or more of said hook-supporting edges depending on whether said drapery support is extended or contracted, each of said hooks also including a forwardly and upwardly facing, lower hook portion engageable with a drape, and each of said hooks `further including a shank interconnecting said upper and lower hook portions thereof.

13. A concealable, extensible and contracti-ble, drapery supporting structure as defined in claim `12 including fixed drapery hooks respectively carried by the inner and outer ends of said innermost and outermost sections of said drapery support at the same level as said slidable hooks.

14. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery `supporting structure according to claim 13 wherein the shank of each of said slidable hooks carries a guide having a smooth rear surface slidably engageable with front surfaces of said hook-supporting elements to minimize 2,012,460 8/ 1935 Vallen. `downward and forward `tipping of `said slidable hook. 3,067,813 12/ 1962 Henatsch 160-193 X 15. A concealable, extensible and contractible, drapery 3,118,168 1/ 1964 Arcuri 160-123 X supporting structure as defined in claim 14 wherein said 3,249,233 -5/ 1966 Marcus et l- 211-105.3 hook-supporting elements are provided on theirhfront 5 3,297,078 1/1967 Miki 160-345 X sides with downwardly-facing shoulders, and w erein said shanks of said slidable hooks are provided with rear- FOREIGN PATENTS Wardly extending tabs engageable with said downwardly- 1,258,091 2/1961 France.

facing shoulders to prevent disengagement of said upper hook portions of said slidable hooks from said hook- REINALDO P- MACHADO, Prlmary Exammer l0 SUPPOYUDE element-s. PHILIP C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner References Cited U.S. Cl. X.R. UNITED STATES PATENTS 160 333; 211 105.3 733,519 7/1903 Trax 16o- 124 X 15 1,104,142 7/1914 Schoendelen 160-125 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,502,132 March 24, 1970 Mark H. Hager et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 9, line 48, "direction" should read directions "contractible" insert a comma. "contractible" insert a after "with" insert the line 7l,

line 72, after Column l0, line 25, after comma; line 58, afte r "facing" insert a comma. Column ll, line 2, "said" should read such line l0, "said", first occurrence, should read such Signed and sealed this 25th day of August 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

